Heat burner surveillance

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a method for monitoring a heat burner by establishing a reading result of the consumption and/or consumption frequency of a liquid consumed by the heat burner (A), determining an environmental temperature and/or an efficacy temperature (B), and correlating said environmental temperature and/or efficacy temperature (B) with the consumption and/or consumption frequency reading result (A), and thereby determining whether an abnormal heat situation has occurred, and/or whether the burner is operating efficiently, and transmitting information of the heat situation and/or burner efficiency via means of telecommunication to a relevant receiver. The invention also discloses the use of the method for monitoring and/or controlling heat systems.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of surveilling a heat burnercombining the hydrostatic principle in combination with weatherdeterminations by using software.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Traditionally, the status of a heat burner is measured via a parallelcable connection to the control unit of and the power supply to the heatburner. Hereby it is possible to get an on/off signal that indicatesvarious failures of the heat burner, such as failure of the burner tostart, or power failure resulting in the burner ceasing to function.Furthermore, sophisticated systems with a range of additional sensorsare known in the art. These systems are capable of determining a varietyof parameters and adjust the system accordingly. One example is a systemwherein the indoor temperature is reduced during the daytime whenresidents are not at home.

There are a number of ways in which the consumption of for example oilof a heat burner may be measured. The consumption of heating oil isbasically measured in three ways: 1) by a level sensor in the container,2) by a flow meter mounted on the suction pipe connecting the containerto the burner, or 3) by calculating operation hours x consumption of oilper hour measured by a control unit.

However, the existing heat surveillance techniques are time consuming toinstall and need skilled fitters to carry out the installation.Therefore, the known techniques are rather costly for the averageconsumer.

The present invention provides an improved heat surveillance systemcapable of determining if there is an abnormal situation relating to theheat system and/or how efficient the heat system is operating withoutinterference in the control unit of the burner. Further, the presentinvention presents less complicated hardware operable by non-experts.Thus, the present invention is simple to use and economicallyinteresting in the market place of heating systems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method for monitoring a heat burner,comprising the steps of

-   -   establishing a reading result of the consumption and/or        consumption frequency of a liquid consumed by the heat burner        (A),    -   determining an environmental temperature and/or an efficacy        temperature (B), and    -   correlating said environmental temperature and/or an efficacy        temperature (B) with the consumption and/or consumption        frequency reading result (A), and    -   determining whether an abnormal heat situation has occurred,        and/or    -   whether the burner is operating efficiently, followed by    -   transmitting information of the heat situation and/or burner        efficiency via means of telecommunication to a relevant        receiver.

In a further aspect the invention relates to the use of the method formonitoring and/or controlling heat systems.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a heat surveillance system, wherein the process iscarried out by using a pressure differential transmitter measuring thevacuum/pressure in the suction pipe, temperature sensors, amicro-computer, and an Internet connection via e.g. an ASYNC modem.Besides measuring the levels of oil according to the hydrostaticprinciple, the RF Bridge units each measures two temperatures. Via asensor mounted directly on the board it measures the local temperature,and via an additional external sensor it makes a temperature reading ofthe hot-water (RF Bridge) and the temperature of the radiator (modem/RFBridge). Weather information may be downloaded from the central servervia the Internet or it may be obtained through local outdoor weatherinformation (degree-days), or be a combination of Internet and localinformation.

FIG. 2 depicts the T-piece sensor mounted between the end of the suctionpipe (4) from the oil tank (7) and the burner (2), and linked to the RFBridge (8). The RF Bridge is powered from the same power supply (6) asthe burner, and links the sensor to the Internet via the modem/RF bridge(9). Both the RF Bridge and the modem/RF bridge have temperature sensorsbuild in, input for external temperature sensors, and has an internalRS485 network by which is communicates with the T-piece sensor and otherunits. In addition to the measured levels via the hydrostatic principlethe RF Bridge units each measures two temperatures. Via a sensor mounteddirectly on the board it measures the local temperature, and via anadditional external sensor it makes a temperature reading of thehot-water (RF Bridge) and the temperature of the radiator (modem/RFbridge). Weather information may be downloaded from the central servervia the Internet or it may be obtained through local outdoor weatherinformation (degree-days), or be a combination of Internet and localinformation.

FIG. 3 shows the pressure behaviour of liquid in a container, such asoil. The cycle depicted is the consumption of liquid in the container.The difference in liquid levels can be used to calculate the actualliquid consumption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is interested in overcoming the problemsassociated with conventional heating surveillance systems, such asovercoming the costly and time consuming operation of parallel cablingto the control unit of the burner, and overcoming the physicalmeasurements via the control unit of whether there is a burner failure,and the additional costly sensors for checking additional abnormalsituations and having the need for engineers/skilled fitters to installand calibrate the system on site.

The present invention combines the hydrostatic principle withtemperature readings and weather information, i.e. this invention isusing software algorithms together with the hydrostatic principle.

Hydrostatic Principle

The hydrostatic principle is based on the fact that every time theheat-burner starts the pressure/vacuum gradually increases, and when theheat-burner stops the pressure immediately decreases to the startinglevel. By analysing the pattern or pressure values during this cycle itis possible to determine the highest pressure value and the lowestpressure, wherefrom the product level in a container, may be determinedand subsequently the amount of liquid used may be determined. Thedetermination of the highest and the lowest pressure values may beconducted by any suitable means. For example each pressure value mayberead out to a printer followed by the user's determination of thehighest and lowest pressure values and subsequent subtraction.

In a preferred embodiment the determination of the highest and lowestpressure values and the subsequent subtraction is carried out in acomputer microprocessor device connected to a sensor, whereincomputations are carried out, such as a computer microprocessor device.Each processed value is read into the computer microprocessor device andpressure therein. By determining the relevant pressure values directlyfrom the pressure value pattern, the need to correlate pressure valuesto pump function, i.e. whether the pump is on or off becomessuperfluous. It is not necessary to physically measure the outtake froma container since the connection to any pumps or flow meter or controlunit for such entities is superfluous.

The invention uses the principle behind the hydrostatic pressure knownin the art and explained above. Thus, the present invention also relatesto a method further comprising the steps of

-   -   determining a plurality of pressure values in a suction pipe        connecting said heat burner with a container of liquid, such as        oil during at least one cycle of suction and non-suction of the        pipe (C),    -   determining a lowest pressure value and a highest pressure value        in the suction pipe during the at least one cycle (D),    -   subtracting the lowest pressure value from the highest pressure        value (E),    -   correlating said result to a predetermined liquid level value        (F), and thereby    -   obtaining a reading result of the level of the liquid in said        container (G),    -   correlating the result of at least one of the parameters of (C)        to a predetermined value of said at least one parameter of (C),    -   optionally, repeating the above steps (C) to (G) at least twice.        Pressure Values

By the term “pressure value” is meant the value read out from thesensor. In one embodiment of the invention the determination of aplurality of pressure values is performed continuously. By“continuously” is meant that the time frame between one individualdetermination of a pressure value using software of the invention and asecond individual determination of a pressure value is identical to thetime frame between the second individual determination of a pressurevalue and a third individual determination of a pressure value. Eachpressure value is read out from the sensor, preferably to a computermicroprocessor device an example of the pattern of pressure valuesdetermined during these cycles is shown in FIG. 3, wherein each diamond(♦) represents a pressure value. For each cycle the highest (0.55 bar)and lowest (0.1 bar) pressure value is determined as discussed abovefrom the pattern, and subsequently the two values are subtractedobtaining a subtraction result, in this example numerically being 0.45bar.

The subtraction result is corrected to a predetermined liquid levelvalue of said container, and a reading result of the present liquidlevel is obtained from the correlation. In case the correlation isconducted in a computer microprocessor device the reading result may beread out from the computer microprocessor device by a display and/orprinter connected to the computer microprocessor device. In oneembodiment the predetermined liquid level value is conducted bymeasuring the liquid level when the container is full, for example byuse of a metering device and simultaneously registering the subtractionresult. Based on the information the correlation may be conducted foreach subtraction result.

In another embodiment the determination of a plurality of pressurevalues is performed discontinuously. By “discontinuously” is meant thatthe determinations of the pressure values are not performed withinpredefined time intervals, or having predefined time intervals betweenthe individual determinations. In one embodiment “discontinuously” meansat random.

In another embodiment the point in time for determining the nextpressure values is dependent on the present previously obtained pressurevalues.

Thus, in one embodiment the difference between the latter two pressurevalues settles when the system should determine the next pressure value.For example a decreasing and/or increasing trend in pressure value“triggers” the onset of a new pressure value with a smaller time framethan a difference, which is substantially zero.

According to the invention the plurality of pressure values may bedetermined both during suction and non-suction.

Time Period Between Determinations

In one aspect of the invention the time period between the determinationof a first pressure value and the determination of a second pressurevalue is done continuously, as determined by for example the user. Inone embodiment the predetermined time period is entered into the system,which is also capable of conducting the steps of: determining thepressure value, subtracting the values, correlating the values. Suchsystem may for example be relevant software connected to the pressuresensor.

The time interval between one such first determination and one suchsecond determination may in one embodiment be substantially less than1.0 second, such as less than 0.5 second, for example less than 0.1second, such as less than 0.05 second for example less than 0.01 second.In another embodiment the time interval may be substantially less than10.0 seconds, such as less than 5.0 seconds. In yet another embodimentthe time interval may be substantially less than 60.0 seconds, such asless than 30.0 seconds, for example less than 20.0 seconds. In yet afurther embodiment the time interval may be substantially less than120.0 seconds, such as less than 100.0 seconds, for example less than80.0 seconds.

Time Period

In another aspect of the invention the time period between thedetermination of the first pressure value and the determination of thesecond value is within one cycle of the suction pipe. By “cycle of thesuction pipe” is meant the time it takes from the onset (restingpressure value) of the increase in pressure a first determination, forexample when liquid is pumped out of the container to the time when thepressure value is back at the resting pressure value. (FIG. 3 depictssuch “suction” cycles).

The outlet of the present container may in one embodiment be capable ofattracting the liquid from the suction pipe through the means ofpumping, and in another embodiment the outlet is capable of attractingthe liquid from the suction pipe through the means of combustion.

As previously mentioned the hydrostatic principle is applied to thepresent invention so as to surveil the burner via the suction pipeconnecting said burner with the oil container, to ensure that heat andhot water are provided for. The measurements made via the hydrostaticprinciple, wherein the pressure (positive/negative) in the suction pipeis converted into a calculated product level, which in turn is used tocalculate the consumption and/or the consumption frequency of a heatburner, such as an oil burner. By analysing the calculated levelreadings and the environmental temperature readings and/or the efficacytemperature readings and/or the degree-day information, it is possibleto determine if there is an abnormal heat situation and/or whether theburner is operating efficiently.

Consumption

According to the invention by consumption is meant how much liquid, suchas fuel a burner is using. By consumption frequency means the patternwith which a heat burner is using a fuel, such as oil. For example howfast the fuel is used and with what intervals the heat burner isactually actively burning fuel.

According to the invention the surveillance of the heat burner may beperformed by in one step to determine the fuel consumption alone or incombination with the fuel consumption pattern. It is also possible todetermine the consumption pattern alone.

In one embodiment of the invention the consumption and/or consumptionfrequency is established by correlating said consumption and/orconsumption frequency reading with a predetermined consumption and/orconsumption frequency reading.

Temperature Parameters

According to the invention the term environmental temperature covers forexample temperatures determined outdoor and/or indoor.

By an efficacy temperature is meant a temperature which has been reachedby means of energy consumption. For example hot water in a reservoirheated by a burner consuming oil.

According to the invention the environmental and/or efficacy temperatureparameters and/or number of degree-days are determined alone or incombination.

The term degree-day is determined by starting from an indoor temperatureof 17° C. and deducting the average outdoor temperature. If the outdoortemperature is 17° C. then the number of degree-days are 0. If theoutdoor temperature is 7° C. then the number of degree-days are 7. Thissimple equation may be adjusted according to the state of the wind.During the summer there may be few or no degree-days, whereas during thewinter the number of degree-days may increase significantly.

Information about the number of degree-days may be from the Internet orfrom a local source. Information from the latter will be more accurate.

The consumption of liquid, such as oil is linear proportional to thenumber of degree-days according to the formula: Y=AX+B, where B is thebasis consumption of oil, A is the increase in oil consumption perincrease in degree-days. By applying the formula it is possible toestimate the minimum amount of oil the burner requires to heat forexample water.

Determining Temperature

Within the invention it is possible in addition to determining theindoor temperature and/or the outdoor temperature and/or the number ofdegree-days, to determine the temperature of pipe water and/or thetemperature of at least one radiator. The additional temperatureinformation may be used as alternative temperature information, or theymay add to the temperature information obtained through the Internetand/or and thereby contribute to a more precise determination of thetemperature.

Monitor

According to the invention the method for monitoring a heat burner,comprises the steps of

-   -   establishing a reading result of the consumption and/or        consumption frequency of a liquid consumed by the heat burner        (A),    -   determining an environmental temperature and/or an efficacy        temperature (B), and thereby    -   correlating said environmental temperature and/or an efficacy        temperature (B) with the consumption and/or consumption        frequency reading result (A), and    -   determining whether an abnormal heat situation has occurred,        and/or    -   whether the burner is operating efficiently, followed by    -   transmitting information of the heat situation and/or burner        efficiency via means of telecommunication to a relevant        receiver.        Method for Determinating Symptoms

Accordingly, the present invention is determining a consumer heatpattern as a means of diagnosing parameters associated with theoperability of a heat burner. By this is meant that the invention can beused to formulate a diagnosis of specific problems in the heating systemneeding to be addressed. Such diagnosis may be that the oil containerneeds cleaning. For example, if the time necessary for the burner to runin order to maintain the temperature of the hot water is increasing, andthe number of degree-days is constant then this could indicate that moreoil is needed (e.g. 7 days before the agreed reorder level is reached).

Abnormal Situation/Alarm

Abnormal situations according to the invention are determined bycomparing the calculated consumption of oil per minute and consumptionfrequency (based on the hydrostatic level readings) with the measuredtemperatures and degree-day information. Hereby, the presentsurveillance system may generate alarms in situations such as thefollowing:

Abnormal consumption/burner settings need to be modified: in case thenumber of degree-days changes and the oil consumption does not changeaccordingly. For example if the number of degree-days increases (=thetemperature drops) and the oil consumption does not increase and/or theindoor temperature is dropping as well.

Decreasing burner efficiency: basically the present invention calculateshow much liquid, such as oil the burner requires to increase the hotwater temperature by 10 celcius. This is done by measuring thetemperature of the hot-water reservoir, measuring the oil consumed perday, measuring the indoor temperature and number of degree-days. In casethis ratio is increasing the efficiency of the burner is decreasing. Theburner/heating system then needs a service visit to be cleaned.

Burner not running: consumption frequency is too low in order toguarantee the agreed minimum temperature of the hot-water reservoir.This is done by measuring the temperature of the hot-water reservoir andmeasuring the oil consumed/the consumption frequency. An indication thatsomething is wrong is in case the temperature of the hot-water reservoirdrops, and the burner is not running as often as it used to in order tomaintain the minimum temperature In this situation it is most likelythat the burner has stopped running, and as a minimum the burner willuse 1 litre of oil per day just to be in operation.

No power: the consumption and temperature readings from the boiler roomis transmitted wireless to the modem at e.g. the living room of thehouse. This is done continuously and if no information is received atthe modem within a certain time frame it is probably due to lack ofpower to the transmitting module in the boiler room. The modem is ableto transmit this error to the central server as the modem has a build-inbattery, which it uses to call the central server in case of powerfailure.

Internet

The Internet plays a vital role in the present invention. According tothe invention the measured consumption for example of oil over time iscompared with weather information, and known behaviour of the site. Asmentioned above this is to determine if there is an abnormal situation.The invention provides for the system settings to be done via theInternet as well.

In one embodiment of the invention the outdoor weather information isobtained through the Internet (degree-days). However, the weatherinformation may be measured locally.

In a second embodiment the abnormal situation information such astemperature changes is transmitted through the Internet.

In a further embodiment the information transmitted via the Internetthrough emailing and/or faxing and/or SMS messaging.

Placement of Container/Burner

According to the invention the container may in one embodiment be placedunderground. In a second embodiment the container may be placed overground.

Independent from the above the burner of the present container may beplaced underground, or it may be placed over ground.

Container

The container of the invention may be a tank, for example a tank forcontaining oil.

Liquid

The liquid which level is determined according to the invention may beany liquid in a container, such as oil or gasoline.

Pressure Sensor

In one embodiment of the invention the pressure sensor is a differentialtransmitter. In a preferred embodiment the pressure sensor is a T-piecesensor, where analogue signals may be converted into digital signals bythe computer microprocessor device.

In a preferred embodiment any temperature drift and non-linearity of thesensor that could lead to lesser precision may be compensated for by thepresent invention. This provides more precise determinations of thepressure values. For example the compensation, of the differentialtransmitters none linearity, is done prior to the installation byadjusting the digital output to a known output from a master sensor.Hereby, the worst-case scenario shows that the precision is improvedfrom +/−10 mm to +/−1 mm. Upon installation the measured product levelmay be adjusted according to the actual product level in thecontainer—this is done via an external device, for example a dip stickreading.

Software

According to the invention the time period between the determination ofthe first pressure value and the determination of the second pressurevalue is done continuously via the intelligence of software.

According to the invention software is also used to carry out otherfunctions. The following software may be applied invention a pressuredifferential transmitter to measure the vacuum/pressure in the suctionpipe, temperature sensors, a micro-computer, and an Internet connectionvia e.g. an ASYNC modem. All units are relatively inexpensive andconventional off-the-shelf items.

In one embodiment the modem frequently connects to the central servervia the Internet. The frequency with which the modem contacts theInternet is determined by the consumption rate of the site. Onceconnected the central server receives the data stored at the site andtransmits weather information back to the site. In one aspect of theinvention during an abnormal situation the system notifies thecustomer/service technician via e-mail, SMS, fax etc. In another aspectin case it is time to refill the container information is send to thesupplier of the customer. It is within the present scope that thecustomer is able to change the system settings—such as desired minimumindoor temperature—directly via a homepage on the Internet.

The basic principle of the present software is that if the burner isturned on it has to run by a certain frequency and will use a minimum offuel for example oil. Furthermore, the efficiency of the burner isdepending on lots of different factors—like the size, model and generalcondition of the burner. Therefore, in order to maintain a certaintemperature inside a home the burner has to operate for a specificnumber of minutes in correlation with the number of degree-days. So thecolder it gets outside the longer the burner has to run in order to keepthe same temperature inside.

Use

In a further aspect the invention may be used for monitoring and/orcontrolling heat systems.

The invention may thus be used for reporting the actual level of liquidin the container as well as the amount of liquid consumed by subtractingthe actual liquid level from the initial liquid level, knowing therelevant parameters of the container. Thereby, the method and systemaccording to the invention may be provided with an alarm in situationswhere such an alarm is needed. This could for example be the case incircumstances where the container is a tank in a heating systemcontaining oil and the knowledge of the level of oil is important forthe success of the continuous heating of a building.

Accordingly, the method and system of the invention may be used formonitoring a heat system and thereby controlling heating of buildings,time for refill and if the container is empty.

EXAMPLE

In one embodiment of the invention a system as shown in FIG. 1 isarranged. The process is carried out by using a pressure differentialtransmitter measuring the vacuum/pressure in the suction pipe,temperature sensors, a micro-computer, and an Internet connection viae.g. an ASYNC modem. Besides measuring the levels of oil according tothe hydrostatic principle, the RF Bridge units each measure twotemperatures. Via a sensor mounted directly on the board it measures thelocal temperature, and via an additional external sensor it makes atemperature reading of the hot-water (RF Bridge) and the temperature ofthe radiator (modem/RF bridge). Weather information is downloaded fromthe central server via the Internet. The computer microprocessor devicehas software incorporated capable of:

-   1. Converting the analogue signals from the sensor into digital    readings-   2. Storing the current lowest and highest readings, and time of    occurrence-   3. Calculating the actual product level in the tank by subtracting    the lowest from the highest reading. The higher the difference, the    more is in the tank-   4. Compensating for temperature drift and the none linearity of the    sensor-   5. Storing the levels at predefined times.

The determination of the highest and lowest pressure values and thesubsequent subtraction is carried out in the computer microprocessordevice connected to the sensor, enabling a system capable ofsurveillance of heat systems.

1. A method for monitoring a heat burner, comprising the steps ofestablishing a reading result of the consumption and/or consumptionfrequency of a liquid consumed by the heat burner (A), determining anenvironmental temperature and/or an efficacy temperature (B), andcorrelating said environmental temperature and/or an efficacytemperature (B) with the consumption and/or consumption frequencyreading result (A), and determining whether an abnormal heat situationhas occurred, and/or whether the burner is operating efficiently,followed by transmitting information of the heat situation and/or burnerefficiency via means of telecommunication to a relevant receiver.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein (A) is established by correlatingsaid consumption and/or consumption frequency with a predeterminedconsumption and/or consumption frequency.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, wherein (B) is an indoor room temperature and/or an outdoortemperature and/or a hot water reservoir temperature and/or number ofdegree-days.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising thesteps of determining a plurality of pressure values in a suction pipeconnecting said heat burner with a container of liquid during at leastone cycle of suction and non-suction of the pipe (C), determining alowest pressure value and a highest pressure value in the suction pipeduring the at least one cycle (D), subtracting the lowest pressure valuefrom the highest pressure value (E), correlating said result to apredetermined liquid level value (F), and thereby obtaining a readingresult of the level of the liquid in said container (G), correlating theresult of at least one of the parameters of (C) to a predetermined valueof said at least one parameter of (C), optionally, repeating the abovesteps (C) to (G) at least twice.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the temperature of pipe water and/or the outdoortemperature of pipe water and/or the temperature of at least oneradiator is determined.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled) 10.(canceled)
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid isoil.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure value inthe suction pipe is determined by a pressure sensor.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is a differentialtransmitter.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pressuresensor is a T-piece sensor.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The method according toclaim 12, wherein drift of temperature and non-linearity of the sensoris compensated for.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The method according to claim 1,wherein the time period between the determination of the first pressurevalue and the determination of the second value is within one cycle ofthe suction pipe.
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein an alarm is initiated at the riseof an abnormal situation.
 23. The method according to claim 22, whereininitiation of the alarm is when the hot water temperature is decreasingbelow a predetermined value.
 24. The method according to claim 22,wherein initiation of the alarm is when the indoor temperature isdecreasing below a predetermined value.
 25. The method according toclaim 22, wherein initiation of the alarm is when the burner isconsuming an increased amount of liquid compared to a predeterminedvalue.
 26. The method according to claim 22, wherein initiation of thealarm is when the burner is consuming a decreased amount of liquidcompared to a predetermined value.
 27. The method according to claim 22,wherein initiation of the alarm is when there is a power failure. 28.The method according to claim 22, wherein initiation of the alarm iswhen the parameters (A) as defined in claim 1 are changing. 29.(canceled)
 30. (canceled)
 31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled)